Just when we thought that the DSLR niche for semi-professional shooters has gathered enough options, Ricoh has introduced the Pentax K-3 II DSLR Camera. This travel-friendly and durable camera features the next stage in false color reduction technology. The K-3 II DSLR is targeted at people who are yet to graduate to the league of seasoned clickers but have it in them to shoot with appreciable expertise. Setting new standards for field photography, the Pentax K-3 II might not have created ripples in the click-happy fraternity but it has surely engaged everybody’s attention. Here, we present our first impressions about the Pentax K-3 II and talk about why it can help average photographers improve their performance, rather quickly.

Chef-d''oeuvre of DSLRs: Pentax K-3 II DSLR Camera

The K-3 II DSLR is exceptional in its own way. From everyday, unplanned clicks to challenging outdoor shooting, it delivers without any fuss. Detail-oriented shots filled with depth and richness, along with better image stabilization, are now delivered effortlessly. Pentax K3 – II makes it easy to take mesmerizing photos using a wide array of personalized settings and manual controls. With advanced digital imaging technology at its core, the camera offers the kind of configurability and control we associated with the old-world, but very capable, SLR cameras that used films. The K-3 II DSLR isn’t shy of maintaining the basic advantages delivered via the SLR format, i.e. eye-level viewfinder, which allows the photographer to view purely the intended frame in an otherwise bigger picture by using the mirror and prism system.

ThePentaprism Viewfinder of this camera offers you segment-defining magnification at approximately 0.95x. However, this amazing characteristic is just the key to a whole chest of tricks that help you click with more freedom. This includes choosing aperture length, focus, shutter speed and many more characteristics—things that differentiates pro-shooters from strugglers. The menu of options does not end here. The Pentax K3 – II also offers optional lenses, filters, sun shields, TTL flash and many more accessories. We believe you will feel spoilt for choices if you haven’t employed them before. The more tech-savvy photographer will be very please to get so much, packed into such a beautiful chassis.

Getting Started: Appreciate the Robustness

Ricoh has never shied away from making tough, more rugged cameras than its competitors. Its revenues might not be breaking records but the brand continues to deliver excellently without any compromises. The K-3 II DSLR takes this legacy ahead—something that needs to be appreciated in a world filled with examples of losing your essence to blatant commercialization! A robust and well-built camera, the Pentax K-3 II DSLR Camera uses its trusted, magnesium alloy shell over stainless steel chassis construction. Ergonomically designed, the weather-combative camera comes with a large 3.2" 1.03m-dot LCD monitor—perfect for live view! This also ensures menu navigation along with clear stills playback. The air-gapless designed screen boasts of anti-reflective coating for superb viewing, even in the brightest conditions.

Robust Pentax K-3 II DSLR Camera

24 Super-effective Mega Pixels & APS-C sized CMOS Sensor

No more hassles to capture quality three-dimensional images or Full-HD videos with the 24.35 megapixel AA Filter-less APS-C sized CMOS sensor employed by the K-3 II DSLR. Combined with the ability to deliver stunning details in the most demanding environments, the K-3 II DSLR seems to have left nothing to chance. With the Prime III image-processing engine, K 3 – II delivers superior quality image output up to ISO 51200 with low-light sensitivity.

AA-filter-free 24M CMOS image sensor

State-of-the-art Shutter Mechanism

Shooting brilliant and accurately-rendered stills at higher frame rates is often challenging. Now, K-3 II DSLR makes this easier with the innovative, three-motor system shutter mechanism. This mechanism efficiently reduces mirror shock by regulating the shutter, mirror, and diaphragm in parallel.

Photography needs dedication but what if you could fast track your progress? Now, camera enthusiasts can take leaps towards capturing better images with the K-3 II DSLR. It helps to shoot true-to-life pictures with incomparable resolution. The Pixel Shift Resolution technology fuels this dynamic, allowing you to capture four sequentially recorded stills of the same scene by shifting the image sensor. This is done by allocating a single pixel for each image. All these shots are then synthesized into a single composite image to deliver a more refined color palette, more detailed than the kind of high-resolution images we have become accustomed to in this segment.

Pixel Shift Resolution System

Outstanding Diffraction Correction & Weather Resistance

Along with reducing the effects of aberrations and diffractions, this Pentax DSLR boosts sharpness—an attribute that delivers effectively. You get smaller aperture size clicks. Fully Weather Sealed with 92 parts, the Pentax K-3 II lets you explore your creativity in the harshest environments. Protecting internal components from possibly damaging elements like water, fog, snow, sand, and dust, this weatherproofing feature sets apart the K-3 from its now humbled colleagues.

Faster, Continuous Shots

Kick away all your qualms about typical DSLRs when you get the perfect still with an unbelievably fast frame rate of 8.3FPS. Yes, the Pentax K-3 II has done the unthinkable, changing how we will look at the next series of launches in this DSLR space. The selectable anti-aliasing filter lets you choose the trade-off between sharpness, aliasing and the fill factor. Also known as an optical low-pass filter, blur filter, or AA filter, the Anti-Aliasing Filter allows the kind of spot separation you must have always expected. This is a significant improvement over most other cameras that stick to correcting aliasing effect by using the micro-array. You can use the toggle button to get sharp pictures in off position or add microscopic vibrations by using the Type1 or Type2 filters—both add the same effect rendered by the optical filters.

Exposed to Perfection

Not just the dust-proof construction, the PENTAX K-3 is also capable of dusting away fears of over-exposing or under-exposing images. The best feature of the advanced CMOS Sensor is that you get the perfect exposure every time! This is made possible with the 86k-Pixel RGB Sensor Exposure Metering and Real-Time Scene Analysis System.

The Much Improved Real-Time Scene Analysis

Best-in-class Sensor-Shift Type Shake Reduction

Shake reduction has been a constant challenge for cameras vying for the top slot in remote field photography settings. The PENTAX K-3 makes a serious case for itself by including In-body Shake Reduction Mechanism. This mechanism efficiently reimburses camera shake up to 4.5EV steps. Delivering the best in low-lit outdoor photography isn’t easy but the K-3 II does this with amazing smoothness. By identifying horizontal panning motion and balancing it for the lateral movement during shooting, Shake Reduction is executed beyond your expectations!

Impressive: Professional H.264 Videos & FLUCARD Connectivity

Now you can relish Full-HD movies with high resolution of 1920x1080 pixels and 60i/30p in the H.264 format. The Interval movie mode incorporated in this camera offers you ease of recording a series of 4K-resolution movie clips at a fixed interval. Wireless image browsing, live viewing and functions like shutter release, exposure settings, tough operation for AF point too can be done easily by connecting the K-3 II DSLR with your smartphone via FLUCARD (for PENTAX).

Advanced GPS Functionalities

With the K-3 II, you can Geotag your imagery as you are capturing it—yes, no lag, no processing time! It plots the click to interactive maps so that you can easily track where and when stills were recorded. The built-in AstroTracer function helps in capturing far-end astronomical bodies like the stars or the nebula with incredible precision.

SAFOX 11 27-point AF System

Acquiring pinpoint focus on the subject has been simplified by incorporating 25 cross sensors and three AF sensors via SAFOX 11 Autofocus Module. This module capitalizes on 27 AF sensors and a light sensitivity range of –3EV to +18EV. The Expanded AF offers platform for precise focusing, even on moving subjects. With the K-3, you get to choose between 9, 25, or 27 points.

Example of using the Amazing Autofocus System

TTL Flash & Easy Connectivity

Ensuring that shutter time and flash time remain in sync, the TTL metering permits the camera to decide the actual exposure required. This DSLR also ensures desired luminous energy for the subsequent main flash. All the uncertainties, like depth of focus, can be easily solved with TTL metering in automatic flash mode. Dual SD memory card slots offer flexibility of storage. Owing to the progressive Dust Removal II function, the camera can maintain a dust- and particle-free sensor surface. You can easily connect it to your computer via USB 3.0 interface and enjoy fast file transfers.

Concluding Thoughts

Ideal for faster, continuous shooting and built to take upon neglectful handling without complaining, the Pentax K-3 II DSLR Camera is easy to use. With a maximum speed of approximately 8.3 images per second, this isn’t just another DSLR to ponder about—the Pentax K-3 II offers amazing shots with responsiveness beyond its league. Assurance of superior performance in extreme weather conditions makes it a great proposition for travelers. Durable and packed with features, the camera doesn’t leave room for you to complain. It seems the K-3 II has been viewing our wishlist for a long time and it decided to grant each of our cravings